How do you judge a good comedy? To the laughter it triggers. Here they fly in tight formation with sharp valves whirring wildly. To the emotions it provides. They stand there, waiting to emerge, irresistible. To the questions they address, again. They are legion there. At the forefront stand toxic masculinity, the right to fragility and to express it, friendship and love, of course, far from being discounted, it goes without saying. Not without laughter. We’re repeating ourselves, but it’s so true.
Carried by an excellent cast on all levels, starting with the funny couple formed by Laura Felpin and Hakim Jemili, “L’Amour, c’est surcoté” ticks all these boxes. Presented in competition at the 28th Alpe d’Huez International Comedy Film Festival, Mourad Winter’s first film reaps what it sows with generosity and subtlety: a standing ovation on the second day of the festival. “I admit, I’m on cloud nine,” he tells us after the screening.
Belgium
